PHYSIOLOGICAL BASIS

OF POLYGRAPH TESTING
 The physiological data recorded by the polygraph that is generated from an
examinee in response to stimuli presented during the polygraph examination can be
attributed to the activity of the Autonomic Nervous System. The Autonomic Nervous
System (ANS) controls unconscious bodily functions such as heart beat, breathing,
salivation, perspiration, and other manifestations of arousal. The ANS is basically
composed of the sympathetic (SANS) and parasympathetic nervous system (PSANS).
The sympathetic nervous system stimulates the internal body organ in response to a
stressful situation. The parasympathetic nervous system slows down the physiological
activation caused by the SANS to maintain the minimum level or balance. The activity
of parasympathetic autonomic nervous system and sympathetic nervous system in
response to a given situation are of homeostasis balance. Thus, any activity related to
changes in the autonomic nervous system is presumed to maintain homeostasis and
survival.

The activation of the sympathetic nervous system which causes changes in the
respiratory, electrodermal, cardiovascular, and vasometer activity is primarily of interest
during polygraph examination.
I. THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

The respiratory system supplies oxygen and removed

carbon dioxide in our body. As we breathe, the air travels in
and out of our lungs. There is an intake of oxygen as we
inhales, carbon dioxide were taken out of body cells when
we exhales. During polygraph testing, breathing is
monitored to determine physiological phenomena
associated with the activity of the autonomic nervous
system.
PARTS OF RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
1. Nasal Cavity
 it warms, moisture, and filter the air entering the body
before it riches the lungs. The hairs and mucus in the
nasal cavity is useful in trapping any contaminations
present in the air.

2. Right Primary Bronchus

 delivers oxygen to the superior, middle, and inferior lobe
of the right lung.
3. Superior Lobar Bronchus
 carries air to alveoli. The exchanges of gases between
the air in the lungs and the blood in the capillaries occurs
across the walls of alveolar ducts and alveoli.

4. Middle Lobar Bronchus

 carries breathed air to alveoli.

5. Pharynx
 it allows inhaled air entering the nasal cavity to make its
way to the respiratory tract.
6. Trachea
 a wide hollow tube that connects the larynx to the bronchi of
the lungs. It provides the flow of air to and from the lungs
during respiration.

7. Left Primary Bronchus

 delivers air to the superior and inferior lobes of left lung.

8. Diaphragm
 it separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity.
When it contracts the volume of thoracic cavity increases,
creating a negative pressure that draws air into the lungs.
9. Larynx
 a tough, flexible segment of the respiratory tract
connecting the pharynx to the trachea in the neck. It
allows the air to pass through the respiratory tract while
keeping food and drink to block the airway.

The alveoli are small air sacs located at the ends of air
passage way of the lungs that facilitates the exchange of
oxygen and carbon dioxide.
THE RESPIRATORY CENTER
The respiratory center is located in the medulla oblongata and pons of the
brainstem. It is consists of three major respiratory neurons, the dorsal
respiratory group and ventral respiratory group which are located in medulla.
The pontine respiratory group which includes two areas known as the
pneumotaxic center and the apneustic center are located in the pons.
The respiratory center is responsible for producing and maintaining the
rhythm of respiration. It regulates homeostasis in response to physiological
changes. The respiratory center receives input from chemoreceptors,
machanoreceptors, the cerebral cortex, and the hypothalamus in order to
regulate the rate and depth of breathing. Input is stimulated by altered levels of
oxygen, carbon dioxide, and blood Ph, by hormonal changes relating to stress
and anxiety from the hypothalamus, and also by signals from the celebral cortex
to give a conscious control of respiration.
RESPIRATION LINE LENGTH

Dr. Howard Timm was credited for introducing the

concept of respiration line length (RLL) in 1981. The
respiration line length refers to the linear measurement of
respiration cycle in a specified period of time. The
measurement of RLL provides an objective means of
evaluating the respiration reaction pattern.
RESPIRATION FEATURES

The suppression of breathing has been found to be a

reliable indicator of arousal during polygraph testing. The
following pattern are considered to be correlated with
respiratory suppression:
1) Apnea
2) Slowing of rate for three or more cycles
3) Decrease in amplitude for three or more cycles
4) Temporary increase in baseline for three or more cycles
RESPIRATORY RATE

The resting breathing pattern is between 12 to18 breaths

per minute. Examinees who deliberately control their
breathing rate to affect the physiological data recorded by
the polygraph can be determined by observing the
regularity and characteristics of respiration rate:
1) Eupnea - normal breathing
2) Tachypnea - fast breathing
3) Bradypnea - slow breathing
FACTORS THAT AFFECT BREATHING PATTERN

1. Disease
2. Age
3. Athleticism
4. Excessive Deep Breathing
II. ELECTRODERMAL ACTIVITY
The term electrodermal activity refers to changes in the electrical properties
in the skin. The older term used to describe the skin phenomena is galvanic
skin response or galvanic skin reflex which was named after LUIGI GALVANI.
According to Brown, the term was no longer suggested to use because on the
following reasons:
1. It suggests that the skin can be considered as a galvanic element, which
does not correspond to the multiplicity and complexity of EDA phenomena.
2. It suggests that EDRs are elicited as a kind of reflex which would neither
comprise spontaneous EDRs nor psychologically elicited electrodermal
changes.
3. GSR has been used to cover not only phasic EDRs but also electrodermal
phenomena in general, including tonic EDA which gives rise its ambiguity.
METHODS OF RECORDING ELECTRODERMAL ACTIVITY

1. Exosomatic Method - the application of either direct current (DC) or

alternative current (AC) to the skin. In DC measurement, if voltage is kept
constant, EDA pis recorded directly in skin conductance units while skin
resistance units are obtained when current is kept constant. The discovery of
exosomatic methods of recording EDA was discovered by Fere in 1888.
 Skin Conductance - Siemens (S) or mhos
 Skin Resistance - Ohms

2. Endosomatic Method - refers to the measurement of electrodermal reponse

generated by the sweat glands without using external current. It was first
reported by Tarchanoff in 1890.
 Skin Potential - measured in microvolts
 TERMINOLOGY OF ELECTRODERMAL ACTIVITY
1. Electrodermal Activity (EDA) - refers to changes in the electrical properties of the
skin.
2. Electrodermal Level (EDL) - refers to the baseline or tonic level.
3. Electrodermal Response (EDR) - refers to phasic response or reaction to stimuli.
4. Skin Conductance Level (SCL) - refers to tonic level recorded through exosomatic
methods.
5. Skin Conductance Response (SCR) - phasic reaction recorded through exosomatic
methods.
6. Skin Resistance Level (SRL) - tonic level, recorded through exosomatic methods.
7. Skin Resistance Response (SRR) - phasic response recorded through exosomatic
methods.
8. Skin Potential Level (SPL) - tonic level recorded through endosomatic methods.
9. Skin Potential Response (SPR) - phasic response recorded through endosomatic
methods.
 THE INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM

The integumentary system is composed of the skin

and its appendages. It serves as barrier that protects
the entry of foreign matters on your body. Skin helps
remove water and solutes from the bloodstream
through the sweat glands. It provides signal to the
central nervous system related to its function as one
of the senses of our body.
DIFFERENT LAYERS OF THE SKIN

1. EPIDERMIS - the outer layer of the skin which provides

waterproof barrier and creates skin tone.
Stratum Malpighi - this region is comprised of the two
deepest layers of the epidermis which are the strata
germinativum and spinosum.
Stratum Intermedium - it consist of stratum granulosum
and stratum lucidum.
Stratum Corneum - can be divided into a lower, middle
and upper zone.
2. DERMIS (cutis) - the lower layer part of the skin that
contains tough connective tissue, hair follicles and sweat
glands. It serves to cushion the body from stress and strain.
Papillary Layer - it contains collagen fibers; it supply
nutrients t selected part of the epidermis and regulates
temperature.
Thicker Reticular Layer - is made of thick collagen fibers
that are arranged in parallel to the surface of the skin. It
serves to strengthen the skin by providing structure and
elasticity.
3. HYPODERMIS (sub-cutis) - it attaches the skin to
connective tissue covering the muscles. It contains the
secretory part of the eccrine sweat gland embedded in fatty
tissue, blood vessels and nerves supplying the rest of the
skin.
THE SWEAT GLANDS
The sweat glands are small tubular structures in the skin
that produce and secrete substances onto an epithelial
surface by way of a duct.
1. Apocrine Sweat Glands
These type of sweat glands are located in the armpit and
genital areas. They are larger in size which are discharge
into hair follicles and produced body smells that cause by
skin bacteria. They are not of value as sources of
electrodermal response considered in psychophysiology or
polygraphy.
2. Eccrine Sweat Glands
These type of sweat glands are distributed all over the body but
most are found on the palms, soles and forehead and least dense
on the arms, trunk and legs.
The eccrine sweat glands primary function is to help in
maintaining homeostasis by regulating body temperature. It consists
of a secretory coil found in the dermis and sweat duct located in the
hypodermis.
When the sympathetic nervous sytem is activated, as influenced
by a significant stimuli, the sweat glands will be stimulated. As sweat
secretes, this results in corneal hydration and filling of the sweat
duct. These phenomena will lead to changes in skin conductance,
though duct filling is the primary mechanism by which EDRs are
elicited.
ELECTRODERMAL RESPONSE
 Electrodermal data has been shown to be a strong
indicator of sympathetic nervous system arousal.
1) increase in skin conductance (decrease in resistance)
2) increase duration of response
3) multiple response
FACTORS AFFECTING ELECTRODERMAL RESPONSE

1. MEDICATIONS
The activity of the sweat gland can be stimulated by medications
containing acetylcholine or that are cholinergic agonist. Its effects
relatively decreases the electrodermal response.
Example:
• injection of acetylcholine
• chemical with anti-cholinergic properties
• scopolamine
• betablockers
• benzodiazepines
 The medications that are of concern in polygraph testing
are mostly regulated and will require doctor’s prescriptions
in order to procure it legally. A guilty individual may attempt
to use any kind of medications but there is no guarantee
that it will give favorable results on his part. It is possible
that an examinee who takes prescribe medicines are likely
to produced interpretable data. Polygraph examiners must
established initially if the polygraph subject is taking
medications and the reason of taking such medication prior
to the examination.
2. TEMPERATURE

The condition of temperature has been found to affect

electrodermal response. A cold area will reduced phasic
response and resulted to a smaller amplitude of
electrodermal responses greater latencies and longer rise
times. The ideal temperature to maintain is 73F (23C) with a
constant relative humidity.
3. DEMOGRAPHICS

 Age
The texture of the skin changes as we grow oler. Sweat glands production is
affected by wrinkles that developed n skin layers. Eventually, the content of ion
in sweat and active sweat glands is reduced. Also, the hypothalamus concerned
with electrodermal activity will possibly affect the production of electrodermal
response due to old age.

 Gender
The activity of sweat glands and the amount of sweat produced differs
among male and female. It is generally concluded based on studies that women
may have a higher tonic EDA due to the greater sweat gland density, while men
tend to produce greater EDRs under conditions of stimulation.
III. CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTM

Dr. William M.Marston was known as the first to use

blood pressure cuff in an attempt to detect deception. He
used a discontinuous blood-pressure test to record systolic
blood pressure readings of a suspect during investigation.
Dr. Marston findings on discontinuous blood-pressure test
was presented in Frye case in 1923 which led to decision of
US District Court of Washington disallowing the result for
lacked of general acceptance in scientific community.
 The cardiovascular system consists of heart muscles,
arteries, capillaries, and veins. Its purpose is to transport
nutrients and oxygen to body tissues and removed
metabolic wastes and carbon dioxide from the body tissues.
During polygraph examination, the primary concern of
polygraph examiner is to monitor the changes that occur in
the heart and blood vessels by measuring the physiological
phenomena through a partially inflated blood pressure cuff.
Emotio-evoking questions are known to cause baseline
arousal and sometimes a change in pulse amplitude.
Baseline changes in cardiogrgaph tracing usually may
occur during phasic or tonic change.
CARDIOVASCULAR FEATURES
 Baseline changes is either tonic rise or a phasic rise and
fall. Phasic changes are generally ssociated with SNS
arousal. They rise quickly and generally fall to the pre-
stimulus level or a new level.

The diagnostic importance of pulse amplitude and

baseline changes are primarily caused by changes in blood
pressure and blood volume.
CARDIAC CYCLE
The cardiac cycle describes all the activities of the heart
hrough one complete heartbeat that involves one
contraction and relaxation of both the atria and ventricles.
1. Systole - refers to the contraction of the cardiac muscle.
It is the highest vertical point in the pulse wave of the
cardiovascular tracings.
2. Diastole - relaxation phase; this refers to the descending
limb of the pulse wave.
3. Dicrotic notch - it is the rebounding of the blood against
the closed aortic semilunar valve after systole.
AVERAGE HEART RATE

The average heart rate ranges between 70-80 bpm. It

may decrease during sleep by 10 to 20 bpm, and may
reach up to 150 bpm during emtional excitement.

1. Bradycardia 60bpm
2. Tachycardia 100bpm